Air Canada Centre is playing host an Eastern Conference matchup as the Toronto Maple Leafs square off against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. It’s the third and final time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The action gets started at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 19, and you’ll be able to see the game live on Fox Sports Carolina.
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs Odds
Toronto is 20-14 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.8 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked 2nd in the Atlantic Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 40-42 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Of the teams 34 games this season, 16 have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 10-5 SU at home this year.
The Maple Leafs have converted on 20.4 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Maple Leafs have been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall this season, and 2.7 per game over their past ten contests. The teams had to kill penalties for just 5.7 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
With a .922 save percentage and 31.6 saves per game, Frederik Andersen (17-11-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Leafs this season. If Toronto chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Curtis McElhinney (3-3-3 record, .921 save percentage, 2.55 goals against average).
The Leafs will continue to look for offensive production out of Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri. Matthews (26 points) has tallied 13 goals and 13 assists and has recorded two or more points in eight different games this year. Kadri has 13 goals and 10 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 18 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Carolina is 14-18 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 15 of its matches have gone over the total, while an additional 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 7-11 SU as a road team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 14.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 2.6 per game over their past five match ups total, and 2.4 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling (2.64 goals against average and .903 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Carolina. Darling is averaging 24.3 saves per game and owns an 8-15-6 record.
For the visiting Hurricanes, the offense will run through Teuvo Teravainen (eight goals, 16 assists) and Justin Williams (seven goals, 16 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Maple Leafs, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of Carolina’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone under in three of Toronto’s last five games.
- The Hurricanes have averaged the leagues fourth-most shots on goal (34.8) and Toronto has attempted just the 26th-most (30.1).
- Toronto has averaged 3.2 goals per game overall this season, but has been averaging 1.0 goal per matchup over its three-game losing streak.
- Over Toronto’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
